Cholecystokinetic cholecystography

A prospective clinical trial of 100 patients receiving either intramuscular ceruletide or a fatty meal to contract the gallbladder after oral cholecystography is described. The percentage reduction of the gallbladder area after 30 min of stimulation was not significantly greater with ceruletide (49%) than with a fatty meal (44%) (t-test:p>0.3).Ceruletide caused significantly more adverse reactions than a fatty meal (Fisher test,p<0.01). The diagnostic value of routine cholecystokinetic stimulation is doubtful, since the diagnosis changed after the contraction in only 1 patient.     

A model for the comparison of pharmacologic agents influencing gallbladder contraction

Investigations on pharmacologic effects on gallbladder contraction must take into consideration the spontaneous motility of the gallbladder. In 20 healthy subjects, we measured the area of the gallbladder sonographically over 10 h at hourly intervals. The spontaneous motility expressed as a coefficient of variation varied between 1.6 and 13% (mean value, 6.3%). Afterwards, we checked the cholecystokinetic action of ceruletide and fatty meal in eight subjects. Here, an alteration of the area by four times the previously found coefficient of variation was defined as significant. A significant contraction occurred earlier after ceruletide administration than after a fatty meal (10 min as compared to 20 min). This lasted longer (40 min. vs. 25 min) and led to a very much more marked reduction in area (69% as compared to 53%). These differences were significant on a 5% level. The end of the contraction did not differ (50 min as compared to 45 min). We conclude that drugs which affect gallbladder contraction can be compared with consideration of spontaneous motility.     

Effects of cholestyramine on gallbladder and gastric emptying in obese and lean subjects

Abstract. Gallbladder stasis is frequent in obese subjects and may contribute to their increased risk for gallstone formation. The bile salt sequestrant cholestyramine acutely enhances postprandial gallbladder emptying in lean subjects, through dis-inhibition of a negative feedback between intraluminal bile salts and CCK release. In this study the effect of cholestyramine on both gallbladder and gastric antrum dynamics were studied by realtime ultrasonography in 12 obese and 15 lean subjects. For the acute study, on different days, subjects ingested a liquid meal (two egg yolks plus water 200 mL, 50 kJ) or a meal with 4g cholestyramine. Gallbladder emptying was impaired in obese patients who had significantly larger fasting gallbladder volume (39.4 ± 6.9 vs. 21.6 ± l.7mL, P <0.02), larger residual volume (12.3 ± 1.8 vs. 4.0 ± 0.5ml, P < 0.0006) and slower emptying time ( T /2: 33 ± 2 vs. 21 ± 2 min, P < 0.05) than lean subjects. Integrated antral emptying was also less in obese than lean subjects (5521 ± 578 vs. 7908 ± 491 % 120min^-1, P <0.02). Cholestyramine enhanced postprandial gallbladder emptying in both obese and lean subjects. Gastric emptying was delayed with cholestyramine in lean but not obese subjects. For the chronic study, after 1 month therapy with cholestyramine (4 g every 2 days), the motility tests were repeated in nine obese subjects. Gallbladder and gastric responses to a test meal, with or without cholestyramine, were preserved. We conclude that both gallbladder and antral emptying of a liquid test meal are impaired in obese subjects. Gallbladder emptying improves after acute administration of a low dose cholestyramine with test meal. This effect is sustained after 1 month treatment with a low dose of cholestyramine and does not interfere with gastric emptying of obese patients. Cholestyramine may improve gallbladder hypomotility in obese people.     

Nonvisualized gallbladder on oral cholecystography: Implications for lithotripsy

Currently, most protocols evaluating the efficacy of gallstone lithotripsy require a visualized gallbladder on oral cholecystography (OCG). The primary purpose of the OCG is to establish that the cystic duct is patent. When the gallbladder is visualized on OCG, it can also be used to number and size gallstones accurately. Patients with nonvisualization of the gallbladder on OCG are excluded from consideration for lithotripsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the ultrasonographic findings (i.e., number and sizes of stones in 32 patients with nonvisualization on the OCG). In 11 patients (34%) ultrasound (US) did not detect any stone, and it is presumed that the gallbladder failed to visualize for other reasons. Six patients (19%) had one or two stones and 15 (47%) patients had more than three stones. This suggests that 20% of patients with nonvisualization of the gallbladder on OCG would otherwise be eligible for lithotripsy provided that patency of the cystic duct can be demonstrated by other means, such as computed tomographic (CT) examination with oral biliary contrast or cholescintigraphy.     

Assessment of gallbladder function using ceruletide in oral cholecystography

A dose of 0.3 g/kg body weight of ceruletide was assessed for its effect on gallbladder contraction and bile duct delineation following oral cholecystography. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain sometimes occurred after ceruletide. No relationship was found after ceruletide administration between the radiologic appearances of the biliary tract and reproduction of the patients' biliary-type symptoms. Ceruletide cholecystography is regarded as an inaccurate investigation of biliary tract function.     

Bile duct measurements after ceruletide as an aid to the ultrasound diagnosis of choledocholithiasis

Despite good results in gallbladder imaging, ultrasound (US) diagnosis of choledocholithiasis remains a challenge. The value of US before and after a provocative injection of the decapeptide ceruletide was examined in 25 patients with suspected common duct stones immediately prior to diagnostic retrograde cholangiography. An abnormal response (increase in US duct diameter) was seen in 4 of 6 patients with an obstructed duct, giving a sensitivity of 67% and predictive value of 80% for the procedure. There was a normal response (decrease in US diameter of a dilated duct or decrease/no change in a normal duct) in 14 of 19 with an unobstructed duct (specificity 79%, predictive value 93%) and an equivocal response (no change in diameter of a dilated duct) in 5 patients. In 1 patient a calculus not seen on the initial US became visible as the duct distended by ceruletide administration. Symptoms after ceruletide were few and not discriminatory. Although it added to the time and difficulty of performing biliary US, ceruletide administration proved a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis.     

Impaired fatty-meal-stimulated gallbladder contractility in patients with Crohn's disease.

1. The incidence of gallstones in patients with Crohn's disease is increased compared with that in healthy control subjects. This is in part due to reduced terminal ileal bile salt absorption and consequent increased cholesterol saturation in bile. The aim of this study was to evaluate gallbladder contractility, a second important factor in the pathogenesis of gallstones, in Crohn's disease. 2. Thirty patients with Crohn's disease and no known biliary tract disease and nine healthy control subjects were studied. After an overnight fast, gallbladder volume was determined by real-time ultrasonography before and 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min after ingestion of a standard liquid fatty meal. 3. Compared with healthy control subjects, patients with Crohn's disease had similar fasting gallbladder volumes (control, 18.7 +/- 2.3 ml; Crohn's disease, 18.2 +/- 2.3 ml). Percentage emptying was significantly impaired at 30, 40 and 50 min in patients with Crohn's disease compared with control subjects. Patients with Crohn's disease limited to the small bowel had gallbladder contractility that was comparable with that of control subjects, whereas in those with large-bowel disease, minimum residual gallbladder volume was significantly smaller than in control subjects. Patients with both large- and small-bowel Crohn's disease demonstrated the most marked abnormalities, with gallbladder volumes significantly larger than those of control subjects at 30, 40 and 50 min. Likewise, patients with Crohn's disease who had undergone previous bowel resection had impaired emptying at 30, 40 and 50 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Role of oral cholecystography,real-time ultrasound,and CT in evaluation of gallstones and gallbladder function

The capacity of oral cholecystography (OCG), real-time ultrasound (RUS), and computed tomography (CT) to detect gallstones and to analyze their size, number, and composition was tested preoperatively in 37 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy. Gallbladder response to a standard meal was also evaluated by OCG and RUS. Gallstones were analyzed chemically for calcium, cholesterol, and bilirubin content. The results show that RUS is the most valuable test for detecting gallstones and is similar to OCG in measuring their size and number, whereas CT underestimates the stone size. Gallbladder function in terms of contractability can be evaluated by RUS and OCG, but RUS provides useful information even if the gallbladder is not opacified at OCG. CT is more accurate than OCG in detecting the presence of calcium, and CT attenuation numbers are positively correlated with calcium content of the stone (r=0.87,p<0.01).     

胆结石患者胆囊排空功能的超声研究

６４例胆结石患者胆囊排空能力的超声研究结果表明，大多数胆结石患者空腹胆囊容积和脂餐后残余容积增大，胆囊排空功能减弱，当脂餐后６０分钟，刖囊排空率＜１２％时，提示胆囊颈或胆囊管梗阻。     

肝硬化患者胆囊运动功能的超声研究

应用实时超声技术，观察了30例肝硬化患者和20例正常人液体脂餐后的胆囊运动功能。结果如下：肝硬化组和对照组空腹胆囊容积分别为53．59±32．49ml和20．95±6．88ml（P＜0．01）；剩余容积分别为18．13±13．41ml和7．59±3．32ml（P＜0．001）；胆囊排空率分别为62．4±20％和63．48±11．62％（P＞0．05）；胆囊排空时间分别为98．5±30．15min和45．5±17．61min（P＜0．001）；餐后胆囊收缩频率分别为1．14±0．37次／10min和3．56±0．85次／10min（P＜0．001）；胆囊收缩幅度分别为0．12±0．06和0．13±0．04（P＞0．05）、结果发明．肝硬化患者存在胆囊张力低下和运动障碍。推测胆囊运动功能障碍在肝硬化患者胆囊结石的发病机制中可能起了一定作用。     

实时超声对功能性消化不良患者的胃及胆囊运动的研究

１１３例功能性消化不良（ＦＤ）及１５名健康对照者，口服液体脂餐４００ｍｌ后，用Ｂ超测定胃及胆囊排空功能。结果显示：ＦＤ组中６９例（６１．０６％）有胃排空延迟，２８例（２４．７７％）有胆囊排空不足，其中１１例（９．７％）既有胃排空延迟，又有胆囊排空不足。４４例（３８．９３％）胃排空时间正常；８５例（７５．２２％）胆囊排空正常。液体脂餐后Ｂ超测定胃及胆囊排空为一方便、无创，准确之检测方法。     

Increased plasma cholecystokinin levels and small gall bladders in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.

1. In patients with cystic fibrosis, abnormalities in plasma cholecystokinin level and gall-bladder emptying may contribute to the development of maldigestion and gall-stones. 2. Therefore, we have measured plasma cholecystokinin levels and gall-bladder volumes before and after ingestion of a standard breakfast in eight adult patients with cystic fibrosis and in eight normal control subjects. 3. In the patients with cystic fibrosis basal (2.8 +/- 0.4 pmol/l; P less than 0.05, t-test) and maximum post-prandial (5.7 +/- 0.5 pmol/l; P less than 0.05, t-test) plasma cholecystokinin levels were significantly higher than those in the control subjects (1.9 +/- 0.1 pmol/l, and 4.5 +/- 0.2 pmol/l, respectively). On the other hand, integrated plasma cholecystokinin secretion in response to the meal was similar (t-test, P = 0.4 versus control subjects). The increased plasma cholecystokinin levels in the patients with cystic fibrosis were accompanied by reduced gallbladder volumes in both the basal (7.8 +/- 2.1 cm3 versus 20.9 +/- 2.3 cm3 in control subjects; P less than 0.005, t-test) and the post-prandial state (2.2 +/- 1.0 cm3 versus 4.8 +/- 0.8 cm3 in control subjects; P = 0.06, t-test). Gall-bladder emptying in the patients with cystic fibrosis was well preserved (70 +/- 7% versus 78 +/- 9% in control subjects; P = 0.4, t-test). 4. In comparison with normal control subjects, patients with cystic fibrosis have an increased basal plasma cholecystokinin level and a reduced gall-bladder volume, whereas post-prandial gall-bladder emptying and plasma cholecystokinin secretion are not significantly different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Emergency Medicine Resident Performed Bedside Ultrasonography of the Gallbladder in Non-Fasted Healthy Volunteers

Background: Gallbladder ultrasonography is a commonly performed test in the emergency department. It is unknown whether a non-fasting state alters the visualization of the gallbladder by emergency medicine (EM) residents. Objectives: We conducted this study to determine whether EM residents are able to visualize the gallbladder in volunteers who have recently consumed a fatty meal. Methods: This study used a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled design. Initial scans were performed on fasting volunteers. A fatty meal was then consumed. Thirty minutes after eating, a different resident, who was unaware of whether the volunteer had eaten or fasted, performed a second scan. To control for operator bias, 10% of subjects remained fasting between scans. Student's paired-samples t-test, Pearson's chi-squared, and McNemar test were determined as appropriate. Results: A total of 92 scans from 46 volunteers were analyzed. EM residents were able to visualize the gallbladder in all 40 pre-prandial scans (100%) and all 40 post-prandial scans (100%). Gallbladder area as measured in the longitudinal axis decreased 20% from a mean baseline of 11.58 ± 4.86 cm² (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.17–12.98) to 9.2 ± 5.04 cm² (95% CI 7.74–10.66, p = 0.0009) after food intake. Total time to scan for the fasting volunteers (110.2 s, 95% CI 84.34–136) did not change significantly from non-fasting volunteers (129.7 s, 95% CI 110.29–149.01, p = 0.153). Conclusions: EM residents are able to visualize the gallbladder in non-fasted healthy volunteers.     

Effect of rectal distension on gallbladder emptying and circulating gut hormones

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of upper gut motility, including a delay of gastric emptying and small bowel transit, found in patients with constipation may be secondary to factors originating in the colon or rectum as a result of faecal stasis. The aim was to determine if stimulation of mechanosensory function by rectal distension affects postprandial gallbladder emptying and release of gastrointestinal peptides participating in control of upper gut motility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers were studied with an electronic barostat and a plastic bag positioned in the rectum. Intrabag pressure was maintained at minimal distension pressure + 2 mmHg on one occasion and on a pressure that induced a sensation of urge on the other. Gallbladder volume and plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK), pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and peptide YY (PYY) were measured before and after ingestion of a 450-kcal mixed liquid meal. RESULTS: Rectal distension enhanced maximum gallbladder emptying from 66 +/- 7% to 78 +/- 5% (P < 0.05). Distension tended to increase integrated plasma PYY from 77 +/- 30 pM min to 128 +/- 40 pM min in the first hour after the meal (P = 0.08) and it suppressed integrated plasma PP from 1133 +/- 248 pM min to 269 +/- 284 pM min in the second hour (P < 0.05). Integrated plasma CCK concentrations were not significantly affected. CONCLUSION: Mechanosensory stimulation of the rectum enhances postprandial gallbladder emptying and influences postprandial release of gut hormones involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility in healthy subjects. These mechanisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of the upper gastrointestinal motor abnormalities observed in constipated patients.     

Impaired gallbladder and gastric motility and pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux in gallstone patients

Impaired gallbladder motility is common in gallstone patients and might be associated with other gastrointestinal defects. Twenty patients with small stones in an opacified gallbladder at oral cholecystography and 20 healthy subjects homogeneous for sex, age and body size were studied by ultrasonography to assess gallbladder and gastric emptying simultaneously in response to a standard liquid meal (120 kcal, 11 g fat, 200 mL). The same subjects underwent ambulatory 24-h gastro-oesophageal pH monitoring. Dyspeptic symptoms were specifically investigated using a questionnaire. Gallstone patients had a significantly larger fasting (P < 0.05) and residual (P < 0.005) gallbladder volume with slower (P < 0.05) and less complete (anova , 0.001 < P < 0.05) gastric emptying than healthy control subjects. The speed of antral emptying was significantly correlated with the speed of gallbladder emptying (n = 40, r = + 0.31, P < 0.05). Pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux was present in 75% and 15% of patients and control subjects respectively (P < 0.05). Overall, 95% of gallstone patients had abnormal pH profiles resulting from pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux and/or prolonged gastric alkalinization. The speed of post-prandial antral emptying was significantly correlated with the duration of the longest gastro-oesophageal reflux episode (r = + 0.30, P < 0.03) and duodeno-gastric reflux episode (r = + 0.80, P < 0.02). Best predictors for gastric alkalinization were the following indices of gallbladder function: large fasting volume (P = 0.03), large ejection volume (P = 0.009) and slower emptying (P = 0.032). Gallbladder and gastric motility were similar in patients with (n = 12) and without (n = 8) dyspeptic symptoms. Pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux was found in 83% of dyspeptic patients and in 25% of patients without dyspepsia (P < 0.01). When reflux was present, it was significantly less in asymptomatic than in dyspeptic patients [time at pH < 4, median (range): 6.4% (3.2–22.6%) vs. 47.8% (2.1–87%), P < 0.05]. This study shows that a subgroup of gallstone patients with small—mainly asymptomatic—stones have impaired gallbladder and gastric motility as well as abnormal gastro-oesophageal pH-profiles. These findings point to the existence of multiple functional defects of the upper gastrointestinal tract in gallstone disease.     

Effects of a Protein Preload on Gastric Emptying, Glycemia, and Gut Hormones After a Carbohydrate Meal in Diet-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated whether a whey preload could slow gastric emptying, stimulate incretin hormones, and attenuate postprandial glycemia in type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Eight type 2 diabetic patients ingested 350 ml beef soup 30 min before a potato meal; 55 g whey was added to either the soup (whey preload) or potato (whey in meal) or no whey was given.

RESULTS

Gastric emptying was slowest after the whey preload (P < 0.0005). The incremental area under the blood glucose curve was less after the whey preload and whey in meal than after no whey (P < 0.005). Plasma glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, insulin, and cholecystokinin concentrations were higher on both whey days than after no whey, whereas glucagon-like peptide 1 was greatest after the whey preload (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Whey protein consumed before a carbohydrate meal can stimulate insulin and incretin hormone secretion and slow gastric emptying, leading to marked reduction in postprandial glycemia in type 2 diabetes.The rate of gastric emptying and the incretin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), response to a meal are known to be major determinants of postprandial blood glucose excursions (1,2). One strategy to minimize postprandial glycemia could be to administer a small load of protein or fat before a meal, so that the presence of nutrients in the small intestine induces the release of peptides such as GLP-1, GIP, and cholecystokinin (CCK) to slow gastric emptying and stimulate insulin secretion in advance of the main nutrient load (3,4). We hypothesized that a protein preload would reduce the postprandial glycemic excursion in type 2 diabetic patients by these mechanisms.     

Three-dimensional sonographic evaluation of gallbladder contractility: comparison with cholescintigraphy

PURPOSE: To compare three-dimensional sonography (3D US) with quantitative cholescintigraphy for assessing gallbladder contractility. METHODS: Gallbladder radioactivity was assessed in 35 patients with suspected gallbladder disease using a gamma camera 5, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after technetium 99m (Tc-99m) DISIDA injection and 30 and 60 minutes after ingestion of a high-fat meal. Immediate gallbladder images were obtained via 3D US. Gallbladder radioactivity at 120 minutes after injection of Tc-99m DISIDA was defined as 100%, and gallbladder contractility was calculated. Gallbladder volume on 3D US was calculated using a dedicated software. Pearson correlation analysis and simple linear regression analysis were used. RESULTS: The mean gallbladder volume on 3D US was 25.3 ml after fasting and 6.6 ml after a high-fat meal. The mean gallbladder contractility index was 77.7% on cholescintigraphy (range, 18-99) and 73.4 on 3D US (range, 16.7-97.3). A linear correlation between cholescintigraphy and 3D US contractility indices was observed. The r value on Pearson analysis was 0.92 and R(2) of the coefficient of determination was 0.85. The difference in measured contractility between the 2 methods ranged from +21.5% to -15.0% (mean +/- SD, 4.4 +/- 8.7%). CONCLUSIONS: 3D US is a reliable and easy method for clinical measurement of the volume of the gallbladder and its contractility.     

Association between gastric emptying rate and nutritional status in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate gastric emptying rate in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, with or without indwelling dialysate, and to evaluate if there is an association between gastric motility and nutritional status. DESIGN: Single-center cross-sectional study. SETTING: Peritoneal Dialysis Unit, Medical Faculty, Jagiellonian University Hospital, Krakow, Poland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 20 end-stage renal disease patients [11 F, 9 M; mean age 50.1 +/- 11 years; treated with CAPD for median 13.5 (2-61) months] were studied. All patients were nondiabetic and had no comorbidity that might influence gastric motility; nor were they receiving any prokinetic drugs. Gastric emptying rate was estimated with dynamic abdominal scintigraphy, started immediately after complete ingestion of a standard 200-kcal solid meal injected with 99mTc-labeled colloid, activity 40 MBq. Scintigraphy was performed at the rate of 23 images in 4-minute intervals for 92 minutes. Two consecutive procedures--with and without PD fluid--were performed at weekly intervals. As nutritional parameters, protein catabolic rate (PCR) and lean body mass (LBM) (based on urea and creatinine kinetics, respectively), body mass Index (BMI), and serum albumin were measured. RESULTS: All analyzed gastric emptying parameters, measured with or without dialysis fluid, were markedly prolonged in patients compared to values accepted as normal in the local scintigraphy unit. Gastric emptying half-time (T(1/2)) and percent of initial activity in minute 46 and in minute 92 were 60.5 +/- 25.0 minutes, 57.19% +/- 17.5%, and 33.8% +/- 20.9% with a full peritoneal cavity, and 63.9 +/- 28.2 minutes, 59.1% +/- 23.9%, and 33.9% +/- 24.3% with an empty peritoneal cavity. The T(1/2) and percent of initial activity after 46 and 92 minutes for healthy subjects were 39 +/- 9 minutes, 45% +/- 11%, and 15% +/- 6%, respectively. T(1/2) without dialysis fluid revealed a negative correlation with LBM and BMI values (r = -0.5, p < 0.05, and r = -0.56, p < 0.01; respectively). Patients with dialysate-free T(1/2) > 40 minutes were characterized by significantly lower serum albumin level compared to subjects with T(1/2) < 40 minutes (39.2 +/- 2.9 vs 42.9 +/- 3.6 g/L, p < 0.05). The values of all gastric emptying parameters measured for an empty abdomen were prolonged in subjects with BMI < 25 kg/m2. No difference was found between patients with and without PD fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric emptying is markedly impaired in CAPD patients compared to healthy subjects. However, the presence of dialysate does not influence it significantly. Gastric emptying rate was negatively associated with the nutritional status of treated subjects. This association can be demonstrated when gastric motility is measured with an empty peritoneal cavity.     

Correlation between simultaneous scintigraphic and ultrasonographic measurement of gastric emptying in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare scintigraphic measurements of total stomach emptying of a semisolid meal with ultrasonographic measurements of changes in antral area as estimates of antral emptying in type 1 diabetic patients. METHODS: Eleven patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were studied with simultaneous measurements of gastric emptying by scintigraphy and ultrasonography. Patients were imaged immediately after ingestion (time 0) and every 15 minutes over 120 minutes. The gastric emptying rate was expressed as percent reduction in antral cross-sectional area from 15 to 90 minutes after meal ingestion. RESULTS: Ultrasonographic measurements showed a postprandial maximal antral area at 15 minutes, continuously decreasing with time, and reaching a plateau 45 to 90 minutes after the end of meal ingestion, whereas the scintigraphic counts attained their maximum immediately after the meal and began to fall thereafter. Between 15 and 90 minutes, the residual radioactivity and antral ultrasonographically measured distension curves were concordant. The curves then showed a tendency toward deviation for the last 15 minutes (median, 51% versus 59% at 105 minutes and 40% versus 57% at 120 minutes, respectively). A strong significant correlation could be seen between the ultrasonographic gastric emptying rate and scintigraphic half-time values (r = -0.94; P < .001). Comparing scintigraphic and ultrasonographic half-time values showed a systematic measurement error of 9.9 minutes and a random measurement error of 18.6 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of standardized real-time ultrasonography to determine the gastric emptying rate of semisolid meals in diabetic patients, with the use of the change in gastric antral cross-sectional area in a single section of the stomach 15 and 90 minutes postprandially, offers a valid method for clinical practice.     

Role of the gastric phase in fat-induced gallbladder contraction and cholecystokinin secretion in humans

The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of the gastric phase of fat-induced gallbladder contraction and endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion in humans. Gallbladder emptying, measured by cholescintigraphy, and endogenous CCK secretion, measured by radioimmunoassay, were studied in healthy subjects after both intragastric and intra-intestinal administration of corn oil. In addition, patients with partial gastrectomy were investigated to study the effect of accelerated gastric emptying. In the healthy subjects, intragastric administration of fat resulted in a significantly (P less than 0.05) later increase in plasma CCK levels (20 +/- 2 min) compared to intraintestinal fat (5 +/- 1 min). Similarly, the onset of gallbladder emptying was significantly (P less than 0.05) delayed after intragastric fat (20 +/- 2 min) compared to intestinal fat (10 +/- 1 min). In the healthy subjects the integrated plasma CCK response to intragastric fat was significantly (P less than 0.005-P less than 0.01) reduced from 10 to 30 min. In the patients with partial gastrectomy the rise in plasma CCK (10 +/- 1 min) and the onset of gallbladder emptying (15 +/- 2 min) were in the same range after intra-intestinal and intragastric fat. No significant differences in plasma CCK levels, integrated CCK response or gallbladder emptying were found in the patients according to the site of fat application. It is concluded that endogenous CCK secretion and gallbladder emptying in response to intragastric fat are significantly delayed in healthy subjects but not in patients with partial gastrectomy, in whom gastric emptying is accelerated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)